Smarter fundraising,
built on science.
Giving Geek Consulting brings research, strategy, and over 25 years of expertise to nonprofits ready to excite donors in the joy of giving.. We help you raise more — without the guesswork or the jargon.
25+
$1B
Raised across client organizations
1k+
Fundraisers trained
and coached
CFRE
Philosophy
Most fundraising advice is built on instinct. Ours is built on research. We’ve spent 25 years in the rooms, with the donors, studying what actually moves people to give — and what gets in the way. What we’ve learned is that generosity isn’t a mystery. It’s a formula.
All of it is research-backed and field-tested across hundreds of organizations, every sector, and more than a billion dollars raised. The science is real. The results are repeatable. And we’re ready to show you how.
ELEMENTS — WHAT WE DO
Consulting for organizations that take fundraising seriously.
We work alongside nonprofits, community foundations, and health systems to build the infrastructure, language, and relationships that produce lasting revenue growth.
Campaign Kick-Start
Intelligence-driven launch packages that turn your prospect list into 100 campaign-ready donor briefs — with coaching and a playbook included.
Philanthropic Assessment & Strategy
A full diagnostic of your organization's fundraising capacity, donor relationships, and growth potential — with a roadmap forward.
Donor Research & Profiling
Deep profiles on your best prospects — giving history, capacity, connection, and the ask that fits each donor.
Case for Support & Giving Materials
Proposals, Cases for Support, and solicitation materials that speak the donor's language — not yours.
Staff & Board Training
Coaching your team on the ask, the conversation, and the science behind why donors give — so they can replicate it.
Campaign Counsel
Feasibility studies, campaign strategy, and active counsel through the quiet phase, public launch, and close.
Storytelling Video Production
Impact stories that donors feel — produced for major gift conversations, campaign launches, and board presentations.
Elements — The Team
People who've done the work.
We’ve each spent careers doing the work — in development offices, university campaigns, and nonprofit boardrooms. No theory without practice.
ELEMENTS — UPCOMING EVENTS
Brian & Sami — Where We'll Be Next
Philanthropy Masterminds Podcast
The Donation Equation: Embracing The Science of Giving
August 19, 2026
Virtual
FFE Seminar 2026
Empathy Meets Efficiency: AI in Modern Advancement
August 31, 2026
Indianapolis, IN
FFE Seminar 2026
The Science of Donor Motivation: Maximizing the Joy of Giving
September 1, 2026
Indianapolis, IN
Coming Soon
The Donation Equation
((P + G) × (C + S + U)) ÷ B The formula behind every major gift.
By Brian Gawor, CFRE & Sami Zoss
Elements — The Donation Equation
The Donation Equation
Every donor decision follows a pattern. Brian’s research identifies the six forces behind every gift — and gives fundraisers a repeatable framework for working with them.
A book, a methodology, and the foundation for every Giving Geek engagement.
Brian Gawor, CFRE · with Sami Zoss
Catalyst – Blogs
Thinking on fundraising
Fundraisers, This Is Not Lord of the Flies: Generosity and Collaboration Are Our Natural State
Fundraisers often feel like they’re fighting human nature — but the research says otherwise. Generosity and collaboration are our default state, and that changes everything about how we approach donors.
Fundraisers: Stop Trying to Convince Your Donors
The ‘convincer’ model of fundraising is broken — and today’s donors know it. Brian Gawor makes the case for a new approach: listening, partnering, and meeting donors where generosity already lives.
Giving Day Season Is Here: Three Tips to Make Your Special Day Shine
Giving days are high-stakes, high-opportunity moments. Here are three strategies to cut through the noise and turn your special day into real revenue — and real relationships.
CATALYSTS — SECRET FUNDRAISING CLUB
The podcast fundraisers keep to themselves.
Candid conversations about what actually works in major gifts, campaigns, and nonprofit leadership. No fluff — just the inside game.
Coming soon. Be first to know when we drop.
🎙 In Production
Secret Fundraising Club
Hosted by Brian Gawor, CFRE
Drop your email and we’ll notify you the moment the first episode drops. Or reach us at podcast@givinggeek.com.
Catalysts — Presentations
Bring the science of generosity to your conference.
Brian Gawor, CFRE and Sami Zoss have presented at AFP ICON, CASE conferences across every district, and dozens of institutional and sector convenings — all with one goal: leaving fundraisers with tactics they can use Monday morning.
Every session is customized to your audience. Brian uses live polling, peer conversation, and real research to keep rooms engaged — not just informed.
Catalysts – Newsletter
The science of generosity, in your inbox.
New posts from Brian and the team — plus book updates and podcast drops. Biweekly. No spam, no hard sell.
Every email comes from hello@givinggeek.com — add us to your contacts.
Catalysts – Media Appearances
What burnishes the credentials.
The Giving Geek reputation is built in public — through media appearances, research partnerships, and the organizations we’ve worked alongside.
Fundraise Smarter — Nonprofit Lab
Brian on donor behavior, the psychology of giving, and what the data says about what actually moves donors to give.
Chronicle of Philanthropy
Insights on the changing landscape of charitable giving, referenced in the sector’s newspaper of record.
NonProfit Pro
Brian’s bylined analysis of fundraising trends and donor psychology for nonprofit professionals.
ELEMENTS — WHO WE SERVE
Organizations we've served.
Catalysts – Trusted Partners
The infrastructure behind the work.
✦ JOIN THE NEWSLETTER
The Secret Fundraisers Club
Fundraising is a science — and most practitioners never learn it. Join the newsletter that changes that.